Kansas Municipal News
Municipal Bond Trends for March 17, 2021
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.
Johnson County Chairman Ed Eilert joins other metro leaders in marking one year of COVID-19
Board of County Commissioners Chairman Ed Eilert remembered the 638 Johnson Countians who have died from COVID-19 since March 2020. On Tuesday, Eilert joined three other metro leaders — Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Quinton Lucas, Jackson County Executive Frank White and United Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan., Mayor David Alvey — at Union Station to mark the one-year anniversary since the four jurisdictions implemented a region-wide shutdown to control the spread of COVID-19. The four leaders were the first to write notes on a commemorative flower wall that will remain at Union Station for the public to interact with in coming weeks.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Governor Kelly expands visitation for nursing homes
Tuesday, Governor Laura Kelly announced expanded visitation for nursing homes and long-term care facilities, which would allow outdoor and more indoor options for families to see their loved ones. “I feel very blessed that I can be here,” said Larksfield Place resident Mary D. Lounsbury. Lounsbury said in the past year she has felt lucky to be where she is and taken care of. “Sometimes older people don’t like to think going to a place like this. I’d go to it again at the drop of a hat. It’s just, they’re all just nice,” said Lounsbury. But when the shutdown happened, communication with family got more complicated as many nursing homes and long-term care facilities closed their doors.
Source: KAKE – News
Kansas schools are returning kids to in-person learning, but concerns over ventilation linger
After the pandemic hit, the largest school district in Kansas set to calculating how much outdoor air it should pull into its buildings. Wichita Public Schools turned to the nation’s top sources for expertise, then boosted ventilation and filtration in ways that scientists say dramatically cut the risk of inhaling COVID-19. Evidence that schools — as well as operators of other buildings that bring people together — should take those steps has solidified, buoyed by scientific findings that the virus spreads primarily through particles in the air, not by lurking on doorknobs and table tops. Yet scientists say most American schools probably don’t bring in enough outdoor air or filter indoor air the way they should. In some schools, the windows don’t even open.
Source: Prairie Village Post
State to come out with more guidance soon on vaccine Phases 3 and 4
Dr. Lee Norman, Kansas secretary of health, said on Tuesday that the state will come out with more guidance by Monday on Phases 3 and 4 of the state vaccine plan. Gov. Laura Kelly and Dr. Norman announced Monday that Phases 3 and 4 of the vaccine plan would start Monday, March 22. One of the questions raised about the new phases is how will vaccination sites know if a person has a chronic disease and is in one of the phases. The topic was discussed at the Tuesday morning media update at the University of Kansas Health System. Dr. Norman said the state will come out with some guidance on that topic soon. He said that people will be on the honor system, but they might want to bring a pill bottle with their name and the medication name on it, or a copy of their prescription with them when they get a vaccine.
Source: Wyandotte Daily
Fed sees stronger economy and higher inflation, but no rate hikes
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday sharply ramped up its expectations for economic growth but indicated that there are no expected interest rate hikes through 2023 despite an improving outlook and a turn this year to higher inflation. As widely expected, the policymaking Federal Open Market Committee also voted to keep short-term borrowing rates steady near zero, while continuing an asset purchase program in which the central bank buys at least $120 billion of bonds a month. The key changes came in how central bankers view the economic road ahead and what impact that could have on policy. “Following a moderation in the pace of the recovery, indicators of economic activity and employment have turned up recently, although the sectors most adversely affected by the pandemic remain weak. Inflation continues to run below 2 percent,” the committee said in its post-meeting statement.
Source: Economy
A Kansas bill would expand a rural workforce recruitment tool, address housing issues
A bill before Kansas legislators Wednesday would extend and revamp a state program providing financial incentives to those moving to rural areas struggling with workforce retention. The Rural Opportunity Zones program provides designated counties an opportunity to offer income tax credits and student loan repayments in an effort to reverse population decline. Previously, these zones were decided by population loss, but under House Bill 2341 any county with a population of less than 35,000 would qualify. This would expand the program by 16 counties, bringing the total qualifying counties to 93. … a 2020 study indicated 30 counties did not commit any resources to the program and 80% of student loan recipients would have moved to the county regardless. While the study indicated the program has not reversed population decline as expected, supporters of the program believe a lack of incentive does not mean it has failed.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Does Wichita need a leash law for cats? A city board is considering it
A city board is considering a leash law for Wichita cats to reduce the number of felines running wild. Wichita Animal Control Advisory Board member Richard Ruth has proposed a city ordinance change that would make it illegal to let a cat roam the neighborhood, with penalties including a fine and sterilizing and microchipping the cat. The proposal would also limit the number of cats a person can own at four and require owners to annually license their cats and vaccinate against rabies.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Kansas launches program to help residents with rent. payments, utility bills
The state of Kansas has launched a new program designed to help individuals and families financially impacted by COVID-19 pay rent, utility and internet bills. The Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program is being run by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC). “Keeping Kansans in their homes and businesses – and ensuring they have access to the high-speed internet needed for telehealth, telework, and virtual school – has been a top priority for my administration since day one.” Gov. Laura Kelly said in a news release. “This program will be critical in ensuring Kansans can stay secure in their homes, stay warm, and maintain access to the internet.”
Source: Atchison Globe Now
Local Govs Will Spend Stimulus Relief in Different Ways
With the passage of the American Rescue Plan (ARP), states and localities will once again receive billions of dollars to reduce the financial losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. But this time local government spending of those funds will look different from before. The ARP works to restart the economy through a well-established plan that encourages vaccine development and pumps massive amounts of federal funding into the economy. In addition to stimulus checks for most people, state and local governments will receive an extra $350 billion, with $65.1 billion in direct federal aid for counties and an additional $1.5 billion for public land counties. A report by CivicPulse found that local governments plan to spend this stimulus payment differently than previous relief packages. While officials still want to ensure health safety measures and PPE demands are met, there will be a shift to make sure that communities will succeed through the pandemic’s duration and beyond.
Source: GOVERNING
Hillsboro utility bills may soar for 2 1/2 years
Hillsboro electric customers will likely see their household electric bills go up 8.4% — an average of $15.33 a month — for the next 24 to 30 months. The increase, motivated by the same factors that could increase bills in Marion, too, will be decided at a city council meeting April 6. City administrator Matt Stiles told city councilmen Tuesday that the rate increase would be necessary to offset a dramatic spike in energy prices during February’s subzero temperatures and a resulting surcharge imposed by the city’s electricity provider.
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal
Winfield gas bills to increase for 6 years
The City of Winfield’s plan to spread out natural gas costs accrued during February’s cold weather emergency will result in customers paying an average of $29 more per month over a six-year period to help pay off a state-backed loan the city took out to help pay suppliers. Customers should expect to see utility bills reflecting the increased usage costs beginning with the March 17 billing cycle, according to a press release Wednesday from city manger Taggart Wall.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Kansas Legislature passes rewrite of emergency management powers
Kansas lawmakers on Tuesday passed a bipartisan reform of the state’s emergency management law, installing new checks on powers of the governor, health officers and school boards to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and future disasters. The Senate adopted the legislation by a 31-8 vote hours after it won approval in the House by a 118-5 vote. The measure now goes to Gov. Laura Kelly for consideration. In addition to modifying the decades old Kansas Emergency Management Act, the new legislation extends the current disaster declaration from March 31 to May 28. The changes to KEMA were inserted into Senate Bill 40 — which previously dealt with the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Conservation. Republicans furious with the governor’s decisions to close schools, businesses and churches and require face coverings wanted additional limits on her powers. Competing plans emerged in the House and Senate before a compromise was reached.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Mayetta sales tax increase approved by city voters
Mayetta’s city sales tax will be increased by half a percentage point following yesterday’s special election, in which city electors voted to increase the sales tax, it has been reported. According to unofficial election results, the vote count was 21-5 in favor of increasing the city’s sales tax to 1.5 percent, effective April 1, to help pay back a 20-year loan through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to cover the cost of extending a new sewer line to the new Dollar General store that is currently under construction at Mayetta’s western city limits. Sewer line extension costs have been estimated at $396,517, it was reported. Mayetta Mayor Jonathan Wimer has also stated that if revenues generated by the sales tax exceed the annual payment on the KDHE loan, those revenues will be used for other purposes in the city, such as sidewalk and street improvements.
Source: Holton Recorder
Limits on governor’s emergency powers, local COVID-19 orders pass out of Kansas Legislature
A lengthy bill overhauling Kansas’ emergency management laws in light of the COVID-19 pandemic passed out of Kansas Legislature Tuesday, and it will head to the governor’s desk. The bill, a compromise between the House and Senate, deal with multiple issues and was a product of days of intense negotiations between the two chambers. “This was probably the most extreme example of compromise that I’ve seen in my 7 years…” said Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita. “When we started out on this… I thought there was no way we ever would reconcile the House and Senate versions.” Both versions had the primary aim of placing restrictions on the Democratic governor’s emergency powers by the majority-GOP legislature, but gone about significantly different ways to do it. The Senate version was also the only one to put limits on COVID-19 orders issued by local and school authorities.
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe.
Johnson County development under fire as Kansas lawmakers weigh expanding STAR bonds
As the Kansas Senate last month debated whether to extend and expand a decades old economic incentive program one project kept coming up. Prairiefire. Critics of STAR Bonds, a 20-year-old incentive program designed to draw tourists to Kansas, held up the south Overland Park development as the ultimate failure. The picture of everything that could go wrong in a STAR Bonds development. And the reason the program should be changed or dropped altogether. Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a Louisburg Republican, said a fifth of STAR Bond projects failed, and that was before a potential expansion of the program.
Source: KC Star.
Municipal Bond Trends for March 16, 2021
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.
LaHarpe to take loan for utilities
Add LaHarpe to the growing list of communities that were socked by exorbitant electric costs following last month’s’ bitterly cold weather. City Council members have declared a state of financial emergency, necessary to apply for a low-interest loan made available by the state to pay the city’s $157,615.70 electric bill for February. The February bill was nearly 10 times the amount LaHarpe normally pays each month (a shade under $17,000 monthly.) The loan would be repaid by reinstating a portion of the fuel cost adjustment the city adds to the base electric rates LaHarpe customers pay each month.
Source: The Iola Register
Governor announces Kansas to move to Phase 3 & 4 of vaccine distribution
Today, Governor Laura Kelly announced the state will move to Phase 3 and 4 of Kansas’ COVID-19 vaccination plan on March 22, 2021. With this move, individuals between ages 16 and 64 with a preexisting medical condition and other non-healthcare workers in critical infrastructure will be eligible for vaccination. “Thanks to an increased supply in vaccine, Kansas will begin vaccinating individuals who qualify in either Phase 3 or Phase 4 on March 22,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “This expedited timeline will allow Kansans to get back to work, back to school, and back to a more normal way of life. I urge all Kansans to do their part by getting vaccinated when it is their turn and continuing to follow the public health guidance, so we can return back to normal.”
Source: Atchison Globe Now
A whole lot of shaking going on, experts look at recent swarm of earthquakes in Kansas
The United States Geological Survey said two more earthquakes were reported in the Wichita area on Monday. Along with the quakes Sunday in Wichita, KSN News asked the experts what is happening. “Usually, you have to look at this for a while,” said John Vidale, USC seismologist. “But there’s a possibility they’re natural earthquakes, but I think in a few months, we will have a much better idea if people can see all the data that’s reported.” Vidale is not ruling out man-made reasons for the quakes. People reported feeling the strongest quakes throughout south-central Kansas, with some reports coming from near Salina and Emporia.
Source: KSNT News